​Storm Francis had already seen off a couple of fixtures on this Tuesday evening but luckily for me my chosen game, Garsington v Woodstock Town, was given the go ahead. So, forsaking a much closer fixture as Bure Park took on Long Crendon, I headed down the A34, past the Kassam Stadium, and into the Oxfordshire countryside on a very blustery August evening.
Garsington is a small village around 5 miles South East of Oxford, sitting on the side of a hill looking out over the Oxfordshire countryside. Although it is such a short distance from the City centre, it really does feel like a country village. In the late 1800s and into the following century the village was home to Lady Ottoline Morrell, a member of the famous Bloomsbury Set which featured such names as DH Lawrence, Viginia Woolf, Aldous Huxly and many more famous (and infamous) writers, artists and intellectuals. Garsington Manor, the home of Lady Ottoline also became the site of the Garsington Opera. The opera was an annual event staged between 1989 and 2010, by Leonard Ingrams who was by that time owner of the manor house.

​
Garsington's pitch is part of the village sports and social club which includes is home to the local football and cricket teams. It is situated on the Eastern edge of the village looking out towards Wheatley and the M40. It's position on the side of a hill was probably not the ideal place on an evening like Tuesday with a wicked wind blowing across the pitch.

Garsington FC play in the Oxfordshire Senior League, Step 7 of the pyramid). They gained promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2017-18 season, finished second from bottom in their first season but, before lockdown, were nicely placed in mid-table last season.
Woodstock, also a Step 7 side, ply their trade in the Hellenic League (Division Two East). After being relegated from Division 1 West at the end of 2017-18, they went on to finish bottom of their division again the following season. However, at close of play last season they were sitting pretty in 4th spot having only lost 3 league games all season.

The Game
As with most friendlies I didn't have access to (or even try to get access to) any team sheets. However, I did discover later that Woodstock had arrived with a depleted squad with only five first team players in the match day squad, two of those were goalkeepers. Having never seen Garsington play before, I had no real idea if they were playing from a full squad or not, but their team did seem to have youth on its side.

​It was clear right from kick-off that the wind was going to have an adverse effect on the quality of the game. Any ball above knee height was pretty much at the mercy of the weather making passes over 20 yards very difficult to control. Long balls were being over hit on a regular basis and play was being forced onto one side of the pitch.
However, the home side did seem to come to terms with the conditions better than their visitors and steadily began to take control of the game.
Plenty of chances came and went for Garsington, but inside the opening half hour possibly the clearest opportunity fell to Woodstock when their number 11 headed just wide. We did have a small fracas with a couple of players squaring up to each other after Woodstock's captain seemed to have a flick out at a grounded Garsington player following a clash in the centre of the park.
On the plus side for the gathered supporters (of which there was a very healthy number) the dark clouds had not yet spilled any rain. That, unfortunately, did not last and as the referee blew to end the first period the rain began.

HT Garsington 0 Woodstock Town 0. The home side mastered the conditions better and engineered a number of chances. Would a change of ends swing the balance in favour of Woodstock?

​With the rain slowing to a very light drizzle, the second half got under way after only a short half-time break (presumably both teams aware of the fading light even though it was not even 7:30). The second half started as the first had ended, with Garsington looking the more likely of the sides, despite Woodstock definitely starting to look a little more cohesive.
Ten minutes in and the home side won a free-kick on their right. The ball was played in towards the near post, some 10 yards out, where Joe Ryan was on hand to stab the ball past the Woodstock keeper (himself a former Garsington player I believe). 1-0 and no more than Garsington deserved on the balance of play.

The goal seemed to shake up Woodstock who, almost immediately, looked a little sharper, a little more accurate with passes, and overall more dangerous. This opened the game up a little and allowed more room for Garsington's nippy left-sided player, Lewis Ryan (younger brother of the goal scorer). Despite his small stature, Ryan was causing all sorts of problems for the Woodstock defence and certainly getting under the skin of their captain. There were one or two incidents that almost led to a repeat of the first-half 'handbags' and, it was only at this point that I realised it was the same two players involved earlier. Despite the outrage of the local supporters standing close to me, it was fair to say that both players were at fault. Ryan definitely led with an arm when going for a challenge, nothing outrageous I should add, not an elbow, but enough to annoy the Woodstock player who, in turn, really should not have retaliated the way he did. Clearly this had been going on for much of the match but in the first half it was on the opposite side to me and I had not got a clear view.
Pretty soon afterwards Garsington made a couple of changes, including taking off Ryan. From a personal ponit of view, this was a shame because I was enjoying his direct style of play and I think his running power may have led to more goals. However, the situation could easily have boiled over at the next 50-50. Wise management from the home side.

Both side slept plugging away. Woodstock certainly showed a lot more fight and composure on the ball in the second half. However, with the light starting to fade rapidly, rain clouds gathering menacingly, and no further score on the board, the referee blew for full-time.

FT Garsington 1 Woodstock Town 0. A good work out for both teams in very testing conditions. Garsington looked to a lot of pace and trickery going forward, enough to cause a few problems in their league this season. I would definitely like to see how Woodstock look with a full first team. Best of luck to both in the coming season and I do hope to see both teams in action again in the near future.

Att: ?
Ground Number: 238
Entrance: £0.00
Programme: N/A

If anyone mentions Stadhampton to me, I immediately think of the Crazy Bear. I once had a blind date there you know (before I met my wife of course). After this evening I may also relate Stadhampton to crazy football matches. Twelve goals, three penalties, two scored, one saved. Three players asked to leave the pitch to cool off, a goal from the halfway line, and it was only 1-0 at half-time!

More of that to come later but, first of all, the background bit. My chosen game for this Thursday was a match up between Stadhampton FC, members of the Upper Thames Valley Sunday League, and Berinsfield FC Reserves who play in Division Three of the North Berks League. It's something of a local derby with the two villages only separated by just over 5 miles.
When last season was cut short, Staddy were sitting 10th of 13 in their league. Berinsfield were 4th of 12 in theirs.

Normally I try to make these blogs as much about local background, facts about the location or about the ground itself. However, with so much match action to cover, especially in the second half,this one is going to be an exception.

​The Game
The Stadhampton pitch, on the village green in the heart of the village, is a lovely setting for a football match. Trees all down one side and plenty of open space on the other. A fair few from the village and from Berinsfield had come along to watch the game, taking advantage of the vast expanse of space on the green.

It was the visitors who started much the stronger of the two sides. In only the 3rd minute their number 4 attacked down the left flank, cut inside and curled an almost perfect effort around the keeper. I say almost perfect because, unfortunately for the striker, the ball struck the far post and flew to safety. A minute later Berinsfield were on the attack again, forcing a corner on the left. When the ball was delivered their number 10 rose highest but saw his header crash against the bar and again rebound to safety. 
The visitors had their hosts and their woodwork shaking. However, this Staddy side is clearly made of stern stuff and they proceeded to battle their way into the game. In the case of their captain, maybe a little too vigorously as he was involved in a couple of challenges which led to a scuffle and a raised hand. He was asked by the referee to depart the pitch for a cool down, although a substitute was allowed to replace him. Two minutes later it all got a bit feisty again, as local derbies sometimes do. No cooling off offered this time though.

The extra bite in the game seemed to suit Stadhampton and, after their shaky opening few minutes, they started to take some control over the game. After 21 minutes they got a reward for their efforts. A free-kick, way out on the right flank, was swung in towards goal by their number 20. a number of players challenged for the ball although no-one got a touch. This was enough to completely deceive the keeper though and the ball sailed past everyone into the net. 1-0

Shortly after the goal we had another series of challenges that led to the referee asking the Berinsfield number 3 to take cooling off period. Again, a substitute was allowed.
That was the last major incident of the half, although the game flowed backwards and forwards, neither team took full control of the game.

HT Stadhampton 1 Berinsfield Reserves 0. Considering that Berinsfield started like a train, hitting the woodwork twice in the opening 4 minutes, Stadhampton came back well and deserved their half-time lead.

​So, although the first half had provided plenty of entertainment and a goal, no-one watching or playing could have known what the second 45 minutes had in store for us. Both sides made a few changes and it was one of these, Berinsfield's number 6, who almost got the second-half off to an explosive start, bursting down the right flank before hitting a shot that clipped the side netting. Definite attacking intent from the away team.

However, the wind was taken out of Berinsfield's sails after just 2 minutes of the second half when they failed to clear the ball which eventually found the feet of Staddy's Jake Spraggs who stabbed it past the keeper to make it 2-0. The home side were now on a roll, buzzing with confidence and taking the game to their opponents. After 53 minutes they made it 3-0 when a good move don the left culminated in a deep cross which was met by Jake Akril, who finished with some style.

Just short of the hour mark the home side were presented with an opportunity to make it four when a penalty was awarded for a trip on Akril. The nippy winger picked himself up to take the spot-kick but was disappointed to see the Berinsfield keeper make a good save
The stay of execution was short though. Five minutes past the hour a nice short corner move saw the ball delivered to Staddy's Max Wilkinson on the corner of the penalty area. He then unleashed a vicious drive that whistled into the far corner. 4-0

​No time to relax though. Two minutes later the ball dropped into a group of players in the home penalty area. Penalty signalled the referee. No-one had claimed a penalty and, to be honest, I really didn't see anything. However, there wasn't much in the way of complaint from the home defence, so maybe there was an offence. Whatever the case, Berinsfield's captain stepped up and slotted the penalty home. 4-1

I was actually still tweeting the penalty incident when, almost straight from the kick-off, Steffen Thomas tried his luck from the halfway line, beating the keeper with a Beckham-esque effort (think Wimbledon 1996. Was it really that long ago?) 5-1

Maybe it as the thrill of the goal but, no sooner had play restarted than the referee was asking Thomas to leave the field for a cool down period after a foul on Berinsfield's impressive substitute (number 6). From the resulting free-kick, the fouled Berinsfield player rose at the far post and scored with a delightful header. 5-2 Once more, though, any signs of a comeback seemed to have been thwarted just 4 minutes later when Jake Spraggs was felled by the Berinsfield keeper. After Akril's miss earlier, it was Spraggs who stepped up this tine and made no mistake. 6-2

Berinsfield re-introduced their number 3 at this point (presumably sufficiently cooled off) and he made an almost immediate impact, breaking into the box and forcing a block from the home keeper. However, his persistence paid off when he managed to control the rebound and slot the ball under the keeper. 6-3

Yet another 4 minute gap elapsed until the next significant action, and it was another goal for the away side. A free-kick was lofted into the area where the visitors number 8 rose to glance a header into the net. 6-4. Could a comeback be on?

No is the answer and, oddly enough, it was yet another gap of 4 minutes before we got that answer. Stadhampton's nippy and tricky number 3, Jake Akril, had been causing more and more problems for Berinsfield as the game wore on and it was he who delivered the killer blow. His first and second efforts were blocked by a combination of a good save from the keeper and a goal-line clearance from a defender, but both were helpless to prevent the follow-up being driven past them into the net. 7-4

Just to add some garnish to his man of the match performance, in the last minute Akril then showed superb control to pull a long ball out of the air and take it in his stride up the left, he drove towards the box and slipped the ball under the advancing keeper. A very classy piece of play to round the game off and make it 8-4.

That's how it stayed.

FT Stadhampton 8 Berinsfield Reserves 4. Remember when it was 1-0 at half-time? The whole game was a pleasure to watch as a neutral observer but the second-half was something else. It's always a good sign when a game only feels like it lasts 10 minutes. Thanks to both Stadhampton and Berinsfield for supplying the action and best wishes to both teams in the coming season. Apologies for having to use numbers rather than names in places. If anyone wants to tell me the names, I will gladly edit them in later.


Att: ?
Ground Number: 237
Entrance: £0.00
Programme: N/A

BotP was back on the road again this Tuesday evening. A short hop up the M40 for a pre-season friendly between Bishop's Itchington of the Banbury District & Lord Jersey Premier and Triumph Athletic of the Coventry Alliance League. This was a new venue for me but I had a seen both sides in action before, coincidentally both in cup finals where they ended on the losing side. In April of 2019 I witnessed Bishop's Itchington go down 5-2 to Bicester Hallions in a shock defeat at Ardley United in The Jersey Cup Final. A month later I was at The Ricoh Stadium to see Athletic take the lead but ultimately go down 3-2 to Coventry Copsewood in the Coventry Telegraph Cup Final.

Bishop's Itchington is a village around 7 miles South of Leamington Spa, a few miles outside Southam and approximately 22 miles South of the Triumph Sports Ground where today's visitors play their home games. The history of the village centres mainly around the cement industry that thrived in the area during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Limestone quarries just North of village provided the raw materials for the industry and, although the cement works are long gone, the legacy lives on in the form of the Bishop's Bowl Lakes, formed from the remains of the quarrying activities.

​Bishop Itchington FC's ground is situated at the opposite end of the village on the village playing field, which provides two full size pitches, tennis courts and a children's play area all with fantastic views out over rolling countryside and the Burton Dassett Hills.
The view really is one of the most spectacular I've seen from a non-league ground. As the village is slightly elevated to the surrounding area, you can see for miles. Take note ground-hoppers. Parking is quite limited at the ground but there are plenty of on-street places available in the surrounding area. I arrived to find the teams warming up and was greeted by the home coach who handed me a team sheet which I thought was a very nice touch and was certainly very much appreciated.

So, onto the game.

​The Game
It was the visitors Triumph, kicking up the slope in the first half, who manufactured the first real opportunity. Harry Jackman broke free of his marker and let fly from the edge of the box. The ball beat Craig Lawrence's dive but struck the inside of his left-hand post before flying across the goal and out for a goal-kick. In what was shaping up to be an end to end start, the Bishops then came close themselves when Joel Bennett was presented with an opportunity in the centre of the goal. His effort, however, was blocked by the legs of Athletic keeper Khane Barlow. A good chance that the home striker will feel he should have put away.
Just after the half-hour mark Triumph were awarded a free-kick just outside the box when Lambert was tripped. Nick Walker stepped up and drove a low, left-footed strike past the wall and, despite Lawrence getting a hand to it, the ball nestled into the far corner of the net. 0-1
The lead did not last long though, two minutes to be precise. A move down the left culminated in a delicate through ball setting Joel Bennett clear. This time, making up for his earlier miss, the striker finished with calm ease. 1-1.

The game continued to ebb and flow for the next 20 minutes in an entertaining and even game. Both sides created some half chances, but neither could find a way to goal. The ball did end up in the sheep field behind the goal on a number of occasions. This must help keep the Bishops substitutes fit and warmed-up each game. Jon Beacham, in particular, was in and out of the field on very regular intervals in the first-half.
With 40 minutes on the clock, Triumph again got their noses in front. This time it was a cross from the left that was inadvertently sliced into his own net by Bishops defender Rob Herdman. 1-2
There was still time for a long throw-in to be touched onto his own bar by Barlow, but no equaliser was to be found.

HT Bishops Itchington 1 Triumph Athletic 2. A good, competitve and fairly even match. Good to catch up with and chat to @The17Mowdog at half-time. I've been following his work for some time but, as far as I know, had not been at the same game before. If you haven't had a look at his blog, you really should. Here's the link, so there's no excuse not to - themowdog.blogspot.co.uk. He's a thoroughly nice bloke too (I'm starting to sound like Tim Nice-but-Dim)

​After a chat and a stroll around the pitch, we were back under way and it didn't take long for the hosts to get back on level terms. Tom O'Callaghan was played in by Johnny Adair after Triumph had failed to clear, slipping ball under the keeper to make it 2-2.
O'Callaghan had an effort just wide shortly after scoring as the home side tried to take the game to Athletic. The running of Adair and substitute Jordan Gill was a threat but Bishops couldn't relax too much at the back with both Dominique Lambert and Harry Jackman coming very close.

Just after the hour mark Barlow was called into action again, producing a very good save to prevent Bennett from claiming his second goal of the evening. However, there was nothing the stopper could do on 70 minutes when O'Callaghan treated us to a lovely goal, taking a pass from Bennett, turning his defender and unleashing a great shot past the outstretched hand of Barlow. 3-2

The game was still in the balance with Triumph looking for an equaliser whilst Bishop's Itchington looked capable of extending their lead should the visitor's concentration lapse. Joel Bennett was extremely unfortunate to see his 83rd minute effort come back off the bar, but Bishops did finally make the game safe in the 86th minute when Matt Trinder grabbed the goal of the game with a lovely 25 yard strike into Barlow's top left-hand corner. Great strike. 4-2.
With a minute to go Jordan Gill applied the icing to the cake, bursting into the box and sliding the ball past Barlow to make it 5-2

FT Bishops Itchington 5 Triumph Athletic 2. The two late goals from the home side gave the scoreline a rather one-sided look when, in all honestly, it was a pretty even match. That's two Bishop's Itchington games witnessed and 14 goals scored in total. That's value for money, right there. Best of luck to both sides for the coming season, I hope that I'll be able to catch both teams in league or cup action at some point later in the year.

Bishops Itchington: Lawrence, Byrne, M.Trinder, Neale, A.Trinder, Adair, Williams, Morgan, O'Callaghan, Gill, Bennett. Subs: Cooper, Gill, Beacham
Triumph Athletic: Barlow, Atkins, Walker, Hatton, Middleton, Cahil, Jackman, Cooper, Wallace, Davies, Lambert. Subs: McGuiness, Budd, Mee

Att: ?
Ground Number: 236
Entrance: £0.00
Programme: N/A

Thursday evening and a chance to see my third pre-season friendly in six days. I had decided on a short trip down the M40 to watch OSL Division One side Chalgrove Cavaliers take on OSL Premier outfit Mansfield Road. However, with the opponents forced to pull out quite late in the day, the game looked to be a non-starter. Step forward some knights in shining armour, Upper Thames Valley Sunday League side Barton United, who managed to get a team together with two hours notice (so short a time, in fact, that they didn't have opportunity to get hold of their kit). We had a game after all.

​Chalgrove is a village (still a village) some 10 miles South-East of Oxford. The village has a long history, it was recorded in the Domesday Book under the name Celgrave and was the site of a 1643 Civil War battle in which Parliamentarian John Hampden was fatally wounded. This fact is quite pertinent to the village's football team, The Cavaliers, who you would assume would have been celebrating the death of an enemy had they existed at the time. In more recent times, during the Second World War, Chalgrove became the site of an RAF base used by the US Air Force. Many reconnaissance missions were launched from RAF Chalgrove, bringing back vital information used in the D-Day landings the following year.

​The airbase is now, once again, a focus of local attention and could be putting Chalgrove's village status at threat. Plans have been laid out for for a 3,000 house development on the site. Unsurprisingly, this has caused a great deal of concern amongst the majority of local residents.

Chalgrove Cavaliers play their home games on what seems to be known locally as The Rice Pudding. I can only assume that the pitch gets a bit boggy in the Winter perhaps? The pitch is situated behind the Village Hall (which apparently hosts the World Miniature War-Gaming Championships. You don't get facts like this in the NLP). However, a note for any ground-hoppers that may wish to visit. You cannot see the pitch from the Village Hall. In fact, it appears to be an empty field with a children's play area and an enclosed 5-a-side pitch. You will need to walk across the field, behind the play area, through some trees and over a small brook before the pitch becomes visible.

Local history and geography lesson over, onto the football.

The Game
Barton's lack of preparation, meaning that they had assembled with any red (or nearing red) shirt that they could find, in juxtaposition to Chalgrove in their pristine pale blue shirts, this made it look as if this may be something of a mismatch. However, Barton started the game well and, as it wore on, showed that they could match their hosts in all areas.

Aside from the lack of kit and Barton's Arsenal shirt clad striker, Tom Lygo, stabbing an effort against the post, there was not a great deal of action in the first half. In fact, I was surprised and glad that a former dance school friend of my daughter's and her father happened to pass by walking their dog. Nice to have a little catch up with them (with an eye on the game too of course).

HT Chalgrove Cavaliers 0 Barton United 0. Not a hugely eventful game by any stretch of the imagination. Barton certainly had the edge overall but it can only get better in the second half.

​And it did.
Just like my game on Tuesday evening, we got a goal three minutes into the second half. Chalgrove won a free kick out on the left and when the ball was sent across Joe Croxford found himself unmarked 8 yards out to side-foot a volley past the keeper, making it 1-0.
The goal was against the run of play based on the first half but it was just what the game needed.
Before we had even got five minutes into the second period Barton managed to strike the woodwork again, this time hitting the bar although I think credit needs to go to the Chalgrove keeper who got a touch on the effort. Why do we still refer to it as the woodwork? How many pitches still have wooden goalposts?

On 55 minutes Barton found themselves two down and it was again a cross from the left that did the damage. This time it was a perfectly weighted ball that found John Clarke at the back post. His powerful header left the keeper with no chance. 2-0
 
In direct contrast to the first half, the action was positively thick and fast. Almost immediately after going two down, Barton went straight up the other end and got the ball in the home net only to see the assistant's flag raised. To be fair, there was next to no complaint from Barton, so I assume that it was a clear offside call. They did, however, get a goal back in the 68th minute when Lygo latched onto a ball (I am told I need to credit goalkeeper Jake Pritchard with an assist for this and who am I to argue) and tucked it away with some style. 2-1 and we had a game on for the final 20 minutes.

However, despite going to an all out attacking style, including a series of very late Hail Mary style launches, United couldn't find the equaliser that their performance probably deserved.

FT Chalgrove Cavaliers 2 Barton United 1. A much improved game in the second half. Two accomplished finishes from Chalgrove proved to be the difference between the teams. Great credit to Barton for getting a team together at such short notice and then putting in a very competitive performance. Good luck to both teams in the forthcoming season, I hope to catch both in action again at some point over the coming months.

Att: ?
Ground Number: 235
Entrance: £0.00
Programme: N/A

After Saturday's first game of the new season it was time to get back on the road for my first midweek fixture and I didn't have too far to travel to tick off a new ground. A twenty-five minute hop down the A34 and A40 to the outskirts of Witney, the village of Hailey to be exact. 
Just over a year ago, I actually saw Hailey play, and win, in the Witney & District Ted Young Senior Cup Final at Eynsham Park, but I had never before visited their home ground at Hailey Rec. That match blog can be found by clicking on this link (All Hail Hailey). It would be interesting to see how many of that cup winning team were on show in this pre-season friendly.

Hailey is around two miles North of Witney, not yet swallowed up by urban sprawl, which is nice to see. Hailey FC play their home games at Hailey Rec, adjacent to the village hall and very close-by to the villages 18th centrury public house, The Lamb and Flag and St John the Evangelist Church, which gives the pub its name, a reference to the Gospel of John and the Lamb of God. I mention this because the lamb and English flag feature on the club's badge.

Arriving at the ground just before the scheduled 6:45 kick-off time, I managed to find a parking spot next to the village hall and made my way over to the pitch just as the teams got started. Having arranged to meet up with @FACupFactFile before the game, I spied him positioned in a nice shady spot just one the halfway line. It had been a blisteringly hot day and, despite warnings that we may have overnight storms, the temperature had not dropped much into the evening. My car was reading 34 degrees when I parked, which made me grateful that I am now way too old to play, and that Phil had found a shaded spot to stand in.

The evening's visitors for the PSF had made the same journey as me, Oxford Senior League side Bicester Town Colts, one step up on the pyramid, but in a friendly during the height of the Summer, that counts for nothing.

So, onto the game. Forgive the brevity and any mistakes. I have to admit that Phil and myself chatted through the majority of the match.

The Game
As with my game last Saturday, there was a an early goal to set the match up. In this occasion it was a 3rd minute penalty for the hosts. I didn't catch the offence, but general consensus seemed to be that it was  quite a soft one. Either way, Hailey's Number 3 (sorry, didn't get a name) made no mistake. 1-0
With less than a quarter of an hour gone Hailey grabbed a second. Joey Aust smashing the ball home for 2-0. It was starting to look as if it might be a long, hard, hot night for Colts.
Three minutes later, however, they were handed something of a lifeline when Josh Patrick pulled one back. 2-1 and maybe we were going to get a tighter game than we thought.
Shortly after the much needed drinks break Bicester were back on level terms. A scramble ensued in the Hailey box and, with their defence crying foul (to be fair they did seem to have a case) Jurgen Popp lashed the ball home. 2-2.
Any thoughts of Bicester going in level were banished on 43 minutes when Aust grabbed his second goal of the night with a low drive. 3-2

HT Hailey 3 Bicester Town Colts 2. Not the most fluid of games but not surprising in the heat. Still, given the conditions both sides putting in great effort.

​The second period started off in the same manner as the first, with a penalty in the third minute. This time, however, it went to the away side after a clear trip in the penalty area. Tom Ebberley stepped up and converted the spot-kick. 3-3

As if six goals weren't already enough, they kept coming thick and fast. Another three minutes after the Bicester equaliser, Hailey struck again and it was Joey Aust once more, this time with an absolute peach of a goal. The striker controlled the ball some 25 yards out, took aim, and lifted a lovely effort over the keeper and into the net. Cue applause from all corners of the ground. 4-3.
Another three minutes went by (there's a pattern emerging here) before we were treated to an eighth goal. It was Hailey who grabbed it, their number 8 being sent clean through to fire under the approaching keeper. 5-3 and for the second time the home side had a two-goal advantage.

When another three minutes passed without a goal we were starting to think that maybe the weather had taken its toll and that maybe, that was that. However, Bicester still had a little sting in the tail. Winning a free-kick way out on the left touchline, Nathan Sandland sent over an in-swinging cross which deceived the stand-in Hailey keeper (their usual number one was at work apparently) and ended up in the net. 5-4.
Could there be another two goal swing on the cards? Well, no. The longest period in the game without a goal ensued and, even a drinks break could not inspire Bicester to find an equaliser.


FT Hailey 5 Bicester Town Colts 4. Great entertainment for us neutrals. As always, great to catch up with @FACupFactFile and chew the cud about football and life in general. A 100% record for the new Hailey Assitant Manager Mark Edmunds. Yeah, it's one game but a stat is a stat. It also means that I have now seen Hailey play twice and they have won twice. It must be a thing with teams in green. I have never seen Kidlington lose either (8 games).


Att: ?
Ground Number: 234
Entrance: £0.00
Programme: N/A

Back from a fantastic family break in Shropshire, I decided that Saturday would be a good day to kick-off the BotP 2020-21 season. However, following last week's DCMS decision to extend the no spectator ban to Step 7 sides, finding a game to watch was going to be a much more difficult proposition. Whilst I am all for keeping everyone safe, I find the new rules rather baffling. As a number of people have pointed out, it is perfectly acceptable for thousands to flock to our beaches but not ok for a handful of supporters to watch their local non-league team. Not only is it confusing for supporters, it is extremely difficult for the clubs to enforce or make sense of. For instance, one team in Worcestershire had two games going ahead on Saturday. In the morning they had an Under-18 girl's match where spectators could come along and watch. In the afternoon, at the same stadium, they had a Step 6 friendly where supporters were not allowed. Presumably the virus has also read the guidelines and understands that it is not allowed to infect people at girl's matches. Whereas, at men's matches (from Step 7 upwards of course) all spectators are fair game. To add to this nonsense, clubs are allowed to open their clubhouses to spectators, with social distancing in place, but nevertheless surely there is far more risk of contagion indoors than outdoors?

​Extending the rule to Step 7 also causes more confusion. Many Step 7 sides play on pitches that are not fenced off and are, in fact, part of public rights of way such as local parks. They cannot enforce a no spectators rule. What about if a local is walking their dog and chooses to watch the game as they walk past? 
I suppose I should complain too much because that last 'loophole' provided me with a perfect opportunity to get to a game fairly close to home. Hellenic League Division Two North side Adderbury Park were set to entertain former Banbury District League-mates, Hardwick. Two teams that I had not had the chance to see and a new location for me to check out. All set within a public park in a picturesque Oxfordshire village and a beautiful sunny August afternoon. What more could I wish for for my first outing of the new season?

Adderbury Park play their home games at The Lucy Plackett Playing Field in the centre of the village of Adderbury, 3 miles South of Banbury. The village dates back to at least the 10th century and is mentioned in the Domesday Book under the name Edburgberie. The most famous resident of the village is probably John Craven, he of John Craven's Newsround and Countryfile fame, although I did notice a white plaque commemorating Colin Butler (1939-1997). The plaque is just above a fairly rare (although, oddly this is the second one I have seen in a week) Georgian post-box, which actually gives a clue to the reason for the plaque. Mr Butler was a long-serving postman in the village who not only has the plaque in his memory but also has a road named after him, Colin Butler Green.

Enough local history. How about the football?

​Today's game was obviously a pre-season friendly. When last season was prematurely ended, both sides were very well placed in their respective leagues. Adderbury Park in their second season back in the Hellenic League structure, were sitting in second place in Division Two North. Hardwick were in even better shape, cruising at the top of the Banbury District Premier League with a nine point lead, although they had played two more games than second-placed Deddington Town. So, who had come through lockdown the stronger?

The Game
Finding some shade under a tree I settled in to watch the game, feeling thankful that I wasn't out there running around in the stifling heat (I always hated playing in hot weather).
It wasn't long before the first goal of the new season arrived and it went to the home side. A Hardwick goal-kick was returned back into their 18-yard area. Goalkeeper, defender and a striker all converged on the loose ball which proceeded to drop perfectly into the path of the Adderbury Park Number 10 who was left with the task of slotting the ball into an unguarded net. 1-0.
The home side failed to take advantage of their early lead and, in fact, it was Hardwick who started to take more control of the game. Just before the 20 minute mark they hit back. A defence-splitting pass found Michael Zinn who calmly stroked the ball past the keeper to make it 1-1.
Halfway through the first-half we had a drinks break which was much needed on such a hot day, although I do hope this doesn't become the standard for every game. The break didn't seem to upset the rhythm of the away team as they continued to push Park back. After 34 minutes their pressing paid off when they won a corner on the left. The ball was fizzed across and met by Zinn at the near post who's glancing header made it 1-2.

HT Adderbury Park 1 Hardwick 2. After a bright start from Adderbury, Hardwick came back well and looked the better side for most of the half. A good game in testing, hot conditions.

​The second half was a much more even affair and seemed to be played at a slightly slower pace than the first period which was not surprising given the heat. The home side looked more dangerous than in the first half but always needed to be alert to the attacking prowess of Hardwick.
Another mid-half drinks break ensued before we were treated to the goal of the game on 73 minutes, an absolute belter from Hardwick Number 9 Jimmy Hunt, arrowing a drive into the top corner from 25 yards out. No chance for the keeper as Hardwick extended their lead. 1-3.

With the game looking as if it would drift into it's conclusion, Adderbury Park managed to salvage a lifeline on 85 minutes when their own Number 9 slid in to pull one back. 2-3. However, despite their late revival, the home side could not find an equaliser before the referee blew for the end of the game.

FT Adderbury Park 2 Hardwick 3. A good run out for both sides and an entertaining game for the neutral observer. Thanks and good luck to both teams in the forthcoming season.

Att: N/A
Ground Number: 233
Entrance: £0.00
Programme: N/A